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Joe Clark, Paul Martin join group hoping to improve relations with First Nations and feds 0

Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin (R) pats former Assembly of First Nations National Chief Ovide Mercredi (C) on the back at the conclusion of a news conference with former Prime Minister Joe Clark (L) and other leaders in Ottawa September 4, 2014. REUTERS/Chris Wattie

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OTTAWA - A high-profile team of former prime ministers and native leaders has convened and given itself the mandate of fixing relations between First Nations and the feds.

Assuring reporters this has nothing to do with politics, former prime ministers Joe Clark and Paul Martin, as well as native leaders including Ovide Mercredi and Mary Simon, signed a formal declaration Thursday and said they will extend the offer to other legislatures, community leaders and anyone else who's interested.

"This group is not only a positive step forward, if it had happened years ago we'd be farther ahead today," Martin said, explaining the group's first order of business would be to influence public opinion.

"The more Canadians understand the issues, the more they'll demand solutions."

The formation of the group, Canadians for a New Parternship, comes on the heels of increasingly loud calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not been alone in rejecting calls for an inquiry, but the difficulty and tension that has characterized relations between his government and First Nations will provide fodder for Harper's detractors, particularly going into an election year.

That's the observation of Tom Flanagan, a University of Calgary professor and an expert on aboriginal issues.

He explains that Martin was "defeated by Harper" and Clark "started to support the Liberals after Harper became Conservative leader."

Realistically, Flanagan said, "it seems unlikely this group will have much leverage with Harper as long as he's prime minister.

"It's not so simple enacting the recommendations of a group of former politicians, no matter how wise they may be."

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau "commended" those involved in seeking reconciliation and recognizing that a different approach is needed.

Flanagan said regardless of approach, "there is no unified aboriginal community with whom Canada can launch a new partnership."